Korean Job Discussion Forums

[earthquakez]

If you take a wander around various recruiters' websites or the different jobsites on the net to do with Korea, you'll see how some recruiters cannot seem to resist putting misinformation out there and trying to complicate proceses for foreigners, not to mention cost them more money needlessly.

As is clear from some of my posts, I have little time for recruiters and use them sparingly if at all when I need to. But there is no excuse for their constant misrepresentation of E-2 visa regs.

Message to those kinds of recruiters - as of September 1st, 2010, what applicants for E-2 visas need to get to Korea are NOT the original degrees, for most NOT transcripts, sealed or otherwise and especially not two copies.

They need apostilled copies of their original degree certificates - in the case of Canadians probably the transcripts apply as I believe there is an issue to do with apostillisation. They also need national criminal checks - likewise apostilled .

So to 'Star Teachers' and others, and that guy who advertises on eslteachers board, the one with the yahoo email address who is advertising an adult teaching job in or near Busan - get your facts correct. You are constantly misrepresenting the E-2 visa regulations. You are saying that 'without these documents (apostilled copies AND transcripts) that applicants cannot get an E-2 visa.

Get your facts correct. Most of the nationalities that qualify for the E-2 visa simply have to present the apostilled documents. That's why the changes happened on September 1st you twits - apostilled copies of original certificates REMOVES THE NEED for transcripts except probably in the case of Canadians.
What a joke these kinds of recruiters are, Star Nonsense et al.

[marsavalanche]

I'm currently getting help finding a job from Star Teachers. Honestly the woman has been really professional and helpful and hasn't given me any misinformation and has been setting me up within the requests I asked for. Just throwing that out there.

[Junior]

[debb199]

[sojusucks]

[morrisonhotel]

[debb199]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[sirius black]

I've been told there is a GPA requirement for public schools. 3.0 minimum for SMOE and 2.5 for EPIK. So, I would assume they want to transcript to verify that.

[nathanrutledge]

[broken76]

Immigration does not need your transcripts to process your Visa but it is still a requirement for public schools to verify your transcripts. Most consulates are still requesting transcripts as well some for the notarization of your degree (in Canada) and also for the final interview and Visa stamping process. Best just to get a couple of copies as a just in case as both immigration and the consulate can request them at anytime during the process.

[jrwhite82]

[morrisonhotel]

[Kurtz]

[earthquakez]

Thanks for the input everyone. Although in a few circumstances transcripts are required, they ARE NOT required as a blanket condition for obtaining an E-2 visa. Recruiters need to wise up and stop being even more of a joke than most of them already are.

There are exceptions such as ESL Planet and a couple of others including the companies that posters on the cafe work at. They have credibility while most of the others do not. There are plenty of Korean recruiters running around telling everybody who wants to work for a hagwon or private elementary/ secondary school that they 'MUST' have transcripts. These are the idiots who are also telling applicants they 'MUST' give their original degrees as well.

That is not true and the introduction of verified copies of original degrees was supposed to mean the end of transcripts for those employers. I checked with my local Immigration office today and received confirmation that what I wrote is correct. If they hadn't brought in the apostilled copies of original degrees then the transcripts would still be relevant. That's the official line, not my line.

Oh and the people at EPIK etc are demanding transcripts so they judge people's lesson planning, lesson teaching and class controlling abilities based on their undergraduate scores at university.................. It doesn't make much sense unless the applicant is fresh out of university with no job history related to English teaching or other jobs that need English skills.

Your undergraduate record has zero to do with how successful you are in the case of those who have taught English before coming to Korea. The fact that you've found consistent employment in good jobs says everything an employer needs to know. The Koreans just keep shooting themselves in the feet and then wonder why they get 'teachers' who can't teach, cut and run when things get demanding etc etc.

I say bring on the end of native English speakers in Korea. After the jobs are axed they will be begging natives speakers to come back in a few years' time.